Free The Lord of the Plains by Sarah Chapman

Bring her with you, she can play
with the toys. I can watch her while I’m here. Better than being
alone all day.’
    Aerlid smiled, ‘thank you.’
    There was the sound of a door opening.
Aerlid turned as Keila, one of the two other workers at their small
clinic, arrived.
    She smiled when she saw him and said hello
to Jania. ‘You look better today.’ she said to Aerlid, looking him
over critically with a physician’s eye. ‘How is your little
girl?’
    ‘Better. I think she will be ok.’ he sighed,
trying to keep his expression from darkening.
    ‘You should bring her in.’ she said frankly.
‘If she needs her arm removed better to do it now.’
    Aerlid’s stomach clenched, the blood drained
from his face. Keila suddenly rushed towards him and sat him down
on one of the chairs. ‘There, there, I’m sure it will be all right.
That’s just the worst case scenario, it doesn’t happen often.’
    Aerlid swallowed. ‘No…no, she’s ok, fei.’ He
suddenly wondered what would happen when people realised Riley had
full mobility in her shoulder. Almost as if she’d never been shot.
He shook his head, trying to push those thoughts away. He couldn’t
deal with that right now. Suddenly he asked Keila about her child-
he vaguely remembered she had one.
    The conversation turned to his worries about
Riley starting school, which seemed rather pale in comparison to
his other concerns. Keila was quite charmed by his concern for his
niece- that was the story he was going with- and told him she often
took her son to the park to play with the other children.
    Keila looked up as the first patient of the
day came in. ‘Well, why don’t you and your niece come to the park
with us on Restday? It’ll give her a chance to meet some other
children before she starts school.’
    Aerlid had trouble hiding his surprise at
her kind offer. ‘Yes, that would be- thank you, fei.’ He was
relieved and apprehensive at the same time. Well, if something was
to go wrong, better it go wrong with fewer witnesses.
    She smiled kindly at him and touched his
arm. ‘Don’t worry, everything will be fine.’ Then she stood, her
attention turning to the patient.

    As soon as Aerlid arrived home that night
Riley popped up to greet him- she’d been waiting. Aerlid felt
another surge of relief at her bright smile and shifting feet. She
was recovering nicely.
    He’d been too tired to continue her lessons,
fighting or intellectual, though that didn’t stop her from
practicing.
    ‘What have you been doing all day?’ He asked
as he sat down on the hard wooden chair. No comfort here.
    Riley smiled, ‘training! And cleaning.’ she
frowned as she looked around. ‘There was not much to clean.’ With a
frown she asked, ‘where do you sleep?’
    ‘On the floor.’ he replied.
    ‘Why do I not sleep on the floor?’
    ‘Because you were sick.’
    ‘But I am not now.’
    ‘I think you still need some rest.’
    ‘You sleep on that…’ she waved at the
bedroom.
    ‘Bed.’ Aerlid supplied.
    ‘Bed. I will sleep on the floor.’
    ‘Riley-’
    ‘When do I get my parrying dagger?’ she
asked, excitement back in her voice.
    Aerlid closed his eyes. Riley was like that.
When she thought the conversation was over, it was over. But a bed
would be a welcome change, so he wouldn’t argue about it now. He’d
have to buy an extra one sometime soon. Well, if furniture was
priced like food, at least it shouldn’t be too expensive.
    Wait… what had she said? ‘You still want a
parrying dagger?’ he asked, his voice weak.
    ‘Yes!’ she beamed.
    ‘You know most people suffice with just one
weapon, would that not suit you? And you really should master one
weapon anyway before moving on to two.’
    ‘No, two suits me.’ Was that contempt in her
voice? Where on earth had she gotten such ideas? He’d certainly
never spoken to her of dual wielding. She was still talking, though
he wasn’t paying as much attention, ‘and I should practice now.
I’ll